What Apple Needs To Do With The Mail App

Let’s be honest. Do you really like email? Most Mac users would answer ‘no’ even though we have many email applications from which to choose.

Of course, the hatred comes not so much because apps are junk, email itself is a scourge. But let me move that aside and get to the point. Apple can improve Mail on Mac, iPhone, and iPad but has chosen not to. Here’s what Mail needs.

Less Clutter

This may seem like a backwards approach to managing email, but Apple’s Mac Mail has clutter that iOS Mail for iPhone and iPad does not. The feature set needs to be the same, so that’s my first grumble. Make Mail work like Mac Mail everywhere.

Second on my list is almost the opposite but you’ll understand. Less clutter. Mac Mail has too many toolbar options and needs a dual mode option. Keep it simple in Mode #1 and add everything and the kitchen sink to the toolbar in Mode #2.

Third on my list are options that Mail does not have but needs on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Self-Destruction messages. Gmail has it. Other email apps have it. Mail needs it. I want email messages to go and then, after a period of time, disappear.

Next on my list is a much needed option that a number of third party email applications have, including a favorite, Spark email. Send Later. Create your email app, assign a specific time for it to be sent, click Send. The email then gets sent at the designated time. What’s not to like about that.

Apple syncs Safari bookmarks from one device to another using iCloud. Ditto for Keychain. Even Photos, Documents, and Desktop folder from Mac can be saved on iCloud and synchronized with iPhone and iPad.

Email accounts? No. Can. Do. Spark does it. Airmail does it. Mail cannot. Most of us have more than a single email account and Apple requires we set up each one– manually– on each device. Spark requires a mere click and accounts show up on each device. Why can’t Apple do that?

In order, my favorite Mac, iPhone, and iPad email apps.

Spark – Fast, elegant, easily syncs accounts, but no spam catcher.

Airmail – The most features you can find on Mac email and works with SpamSieve

Mail – Yes, I still use it for my iCloud accounts (I have three) and Gmail

Apple’s Mail on the Mac is no slouch, but the sidebar interface could use some usability love from Apple’s famous designers. Mail on iOS is usable and fast, but lacks the basic features found on the Mac version.

My list above might appear to be adding to clutter, but Apple could eliminate that as a problem with a simple dual mode– basic and advanced with a simple button toggle.

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About Jeffrey Mincey

As a Mac, Windows, and Linux system administrator in Atlanta, Georgia, I've used Macs for almost 30 years (mostly late at night). Read more of my articles here. Check out my Mac tips, tricks, and app reviews at Bohemian Boomer.